Two

My baby turns two on Saturday.

Two years filled with

laughter

curiosity

fearlessness

appetite

grunts and other noises

bathroom antics

independence

snuggles

sword fights

dirt

baby curls

snakes, snails and puppy dog tails

and so much love!

Happy Birthday, John Thomas!

2009

(photo by Luke Beck)

2010

(photo by Kathleen Dellinger)

2011

Hosted by Cecily and Lolli

Artistic Differences

Art reveals so much about a person's personality.

I can give three children the exact same art project and they will come back with three totally different creations.

There is Libby's carefully crafted, symmetrical masterpiece.

Emma Jane's expressive, abstract creation.

And then there is John.

Who forgoes all the materials provided for him and just fingerpaints with the glue instead.

I'm linking up here:

and at My Wee View

Mommy and Me Monday - The Mommy Playdate

We just returned home from a fun filled week in Alabama!

After days filled with egg hunts, tea parties, cookie making and pool fun at Granna's, we headed to Atlanta to visit my Aunt Martha and have a playdate with our best friends!

After playing a really fun Easter game, courtesy of Miss Emily, we took the kids to the playground to run off all that energy so that Em and I could sit and talk.

Because really, this playdate was really for the mommies.

The fact that our kids like each other is just a bonus!

Hosted by Krystyn at Really, Are You Serious?

happy Easter!

He is risen!

He is risen, indeed!

Sunday is coming

For the last several days, I have really enjoyed reading other people's thoughts and reflections about Easter and Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday.

When I woke up this morning, I was struck with the thought that today is Saturday. Now I realize that this is not breaking news on any level. But if you will bear with me for moment, I will try to explain why this hit me so profoundly this morning.

I have been going to church my whole life and while my depth of understanding about what Jesus did by dying on the cross and rising again on the third day has increased over the years, I have always known that Resurrection Sunday follows Crucifixion Friday. I have never really given any thought to the Saturday that falls between the cross and the empty tomb.

But this morning, I was thinking about how Peter and John and Mary and the others must have felt on Saturday. After the terror of witnessing their good friend (and the man they expected to be the Savior of their people) being executed like a criminal, Saturday must have been a very dark day indeed. They didn't know then that Sunday was coming and I can only imagine (and probably not very well) the fear and sorrow and confusion they must have felt on Saturday.

And it made me grateful for the knowledge of Sunday. And as I was thanking God for His provision, I was reminded that God's provision is NOT dependent on my knowledge. I realize again that this is not groundbreaking news, but it was profound for me this morning.

The 1st century believers, did not know that Sunday was coming, but God did! He always had a plan and He was fully in control then just as He is now. Even when hope seems lost and darkness and fear abound, GOD is still on His throne and we can rest in the knowledge that He knows exactly when Sunday is coming.

So today, on Saturday, in anticipation of Sunday, I am thanking God for His grace, mercy and love and for providing me with HOPE!

Sunday is coming, my friends!

Days like today

I didn't sleep very well last night.

I am visiting my mother this week and at her house I have to share a room with John. Who apparently talks in his sleep!

So I woke up grumpy and tired this morning.

And even though my mom is taking care of the kids and letting me be alone, I can't go back to sleep. My head is too full of thoughts. Mostly sad thoughts that I can't help thinking. I try to be a positive thinker. I don't like dwelling on unpleasant things, but on days like today my melancholy personality takes over and I just have to spend some time in "the depths of despair" as my favorite fictional character likes to say.

My head is remembering a similar morning five years ago. In fact it was this very morning.

April 21, 2006.

I was at my mom's house that day too. And I hadn't slept well either.

Libby was 10 months old but still waking up every two hours to nurse like a newborn. I was exhausted and stressed and fighting that internal battle of not wanting to lose someone I love, but not wanting him to be in pain anymore either.

So the night before this morning, I left Libby in the capable hands of my Aunt Martha, armed with a bottle of dreaded formula and I went next door to sleep at my neighbor's house.

And even without the waking baby, I still didn't sleep. My cell phone was by the bed and I just laid there waiting for it to ring. My sweet neighbor left a flashlight next to the bed for me, just in case I had to walk home in the dark.

My aunt called around 4am to tell me that he was gone. I walked home through the trees with my flashlight and up the stairs to my parents bedroom. My brother was sitting next to the bed just looking at him. I didn't say anything and I didn't get too close. I didn't really want to see a dead body. And I knew my dad wasn't there anymore anyways.

I looked at his face one last time before leaving the room. His eyes were wide open and his mouth was in a slight "oh" shape. His countenance hadn't fully faded yet, and in his eyes there was still visible the awe-struck wonder and relief he must have felt when he saw Jesus, coming to take him Home.

It has been five years. And most days I can remember my dad with a smile. I can laugh at memories and feel peace that he is in the presence of God and that I will see him again.

But some days, like today, the pain is still fresh.

And I am overwhelmed with missing him.

Easter Eggs

This past Sunday, our Sunday School class had our annual picnic and egg hunt.

I realized this year that in regards to egg hunts, times have changed.

Gone are the days of slowly picking up eggs that are "hidden" in plain view.

These days, it's a mad dash!

And if, like Emma Jane, you haven't fully made the transition from slow, methodical hunting to the frenzied free-for-all we experienced Sunday, you might wind up with only three eggs when all is said and done.

But if you look sad enough, and maybe cry a little, then someone (maybe someone who took more than the 10 eggs allotted for each child) will graciously share some eggs with you.

And then all will be well.

And the loot inventory can take place without incident.



Because isn't that what Easter is all about? Candy-filled eggs?

No, it isn't. But I have more to say about that in another post. Stay tuned!

twinkle toes

The girls and I had a very fun weekend with no boys around!

We went out to dinner, spent a day at Epcot, swam in the pool, and as the highlight of our girls weekend...

we got pedicures!

Emma Jane and I both picked a lovely pink, while my wild child, Libby opted for sparkly blue toes.

They both giggled nonstop as the sweet Vietnamese ladies trimmed their nails, scrubbed their feet with pumice (EJ actually kicked her lady during that part...I think it was a reflex), and rubbed lotion on their legs.

And I giggled as I watched all of this unfold.

And even though Emma Jane stuck her finger on my big toe before the polish was dry, I think this might have been my best pedicure ever!

No Boys Allowed

This is not usually a phrase I allow in my house.

But I can get any with saying it this weekend, because all the boys are gone.

Brad and John left this morning for their first father/son weekend.

And I miss those boys already!

Multitasking

When you are running the dishwasher and washing a load of cloth diapers simultaneously and the phone rings just when you are stepping into the shower, it is probably a good idea to let the voicemail do its job.

Otherwise, you might wind up talking for 10 minutes while the water runs.

And it might turn out (after you have already put shampoo in your hair) that your hot water heater isn't a good multitasker.

That is all.

Simple Pleasures

Watching my daughter

watch some ants.

I can't think of a better way to spend a Saturday afternoon!

Breakfast with my boy

Not only does John no longer look like a girl baby, he no longer acts like a baby either.

He has decided almost simultaneously that he no longer needs a sippy cup, a booster seat, or help...with anything.

Instead he is a practically grown-up almost two-year-old

that is quite capable of scaring his mother to death climbing onto the barstools unassisted,

and prefers his cereal in bowl, rather than a snack-trap (with milk, mind you!)

He is an old pro with the spoon skills.

And he is careful not to spill even one cheerio!

But even with all of this new found maturity, he does still like to just dive in with his hands every once in a while...

I mean, he is still a boy!